Alabama § 16-1-39 - Self-Administration of Medications by Student.

§ 16-1-39. Self-Administration of Medications by Student.

(a) Commencing with the 2007-2008 scholastic year, each local board of education and the governing body of each nonpublic school in the state shall permit the self-administration of medications by a student for chronic conditions if conducted in compliance with the State Department of Education and State Board of Nursing Medication Curriculum, as may be amended from time to time by the department and board. Approved medications may be self-administered if the parent or legal guardian of the student provides all of the information outlined in the medication curriculum, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Written and signed authorization for the self-administration to the chief executive officer of the school.

(2) Written and signed acknowledgment that the school shall incur no liability and that the parent or legal guardian shall indemnify and hold harmless the school and the employees and agents of the school against any claims that may arise relating to the self-administration of approved medications.

(3) Written medical authorization that includes all of the following:

a. The signature of the attending physician, or his or her authorized agent.

b. Confirmation that the student has been instructed in the proper self-administration of the approved medication.

c. The name, purpose, and prescribed dosage of the medications to be self-administered.

d. The frequency with which the prescribed medications are to be administered.

e. Any special instructions or circumstances under which the medications should be administered.

f. The length of time for which the medications are prescribed.

(b) All documents provided to a school pursuant to subsection (a) shall be kept on file in the office of the school nurse or chief executive officer of the school.

(c) The local board of education or the governing body of the nonpublic school shall incur no liability and is immune from any liability exposure created by this section.

(d) Permission for the self-administration of approved medications shall only be effective for the school year in which permission is granted. Permission for self-administration of approved medications may be granted in subsequent years provided all requirements of this section are satisfied.

(e) Upon obtaining permission to self-administer approved medications pursuant to this section, a student shall be permitted to possess and self-administer approved medications, according to the orders of the prescriber, at any time while on school property or while attending a school-sponsored event.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as permitting a student to possess a controlled substance, as defined in the medication curriculum, on school property.

(g) An epinephrine delivery system, as defined in Section 16-1-48(c), is an approved medication for purposes of subsection (a), which may be carried on the person of and self-administered by a student.